What’s Going On With ‘The Flipping El Moussas’?

The Big Picture

• The Flipping El Moussas
  Season 2 renewal saw an increase in episodes from Season 1.
• Tarek El Moussa’s new autobiography came out between seasons and details the renovator’s personal struggles and growth.
• The delay in Season 2’s release could be due to Tarek’s book content and HGTV’s concern over image.

The Flipping El Moussas was renewed for a second season in summer 2023, with HGTV announcing an extension from 10 episodes to 14 episodes with the renewal. The series features HGTV all-star Tarek El Moussa, who rose to fame on the network with his now ex-wife Christina Hall on their series Flip or Flop. He also developed the series Flipping 101 with Tarek El Moussa for HGTV. The Flipping El Moussas follows Tarek with his new wife Heather Rae El Moussa, the renowned real estate agent from Selling Sunset on Netflix, as they renovate, elevate, and flip high-end homes together as a growing family. The release for the second season of The Flipping El Moussaswas slated for “early” 2024. Season 1 of the home renovation and flipping series was released in March 2023, so the reasonable expectation was that viewers would see the second season come to air sometime around March 2024.

There has been little promotion for the series from either HGTV or from the El Moussas themselves since the renewal was announced in summer 2023. However, Tarek was in the headlines after the release of his tell-all biography and self-help book, Flip Your Life: How To Find Opportunity In Distress – In Real-Estate, Business, and Life in February. One of the most talked about bombshells from the book has been Tarek providing his side of the infamous “gun incident” from his 2016 separation from his ex-wife. The book reveals many more shocking details from Tarek’s life, including an attempted murder charge related to gang activity as a teenager, and his struggle with painkiller use after a back injury in 2013.

This is a far cry from the image portrayed on HGTV of Tarek and his family in their current life. The Flipping El Moussas page on the HGTV site describes the series as being “all about family” as the real-estate power couple “work together, learn together and grow together with Tarek’s two kids and a new baby on the way.” Since HGTV is a family and business oriented network, and the series emphasizes the El Moussa’s wholesome love story and growing family as a significant story line, the publication of Tarek’s biography may explain the delayed release date for The Flipping El Moussas. While Tarek’s honesty about his journey to a healthier lifestyle is admirable, could it also be the reason for the delayed release of Season 2?

Tarek El Moussa’s History on HGTV

Flip or Flop ran on HGTV from 2013 to 2021. At the time, Tarek was still married to Christina Hall and the couple showed their journey flipping dilapidated houses into profitable properties together. When the couple was promoting their show together in a Fox News interview in 2015, Tarek detailed how they had filmed an audition tape together to submit to a local production company, which eventually led to their start on HGTV. Christina noted that at the time they were filming the audition tape she had been five-months pregnant, and during the interview with Fox she discussed being pregnant once again. The couple seemed to be perfectly happy building their successful business and family together.

Then in 2016, the couple divorced. Tarek detailed this period in his book as a time when he was “experiencing the biggest emotional trauma of [his] life.” However, Tarek and Christina continued to film their series together after their divorce. This lasted until the surprising announcement after the season 10 finale aired that the show would not be renewed, after some reportedly tense moments filming together. An “insider” source told People Magazine in 2022 that the series had become “too intimate” of a setting for the ex-partners as they continued to navigate separate lives as co-parents.

In 2021, Tarek began to film a solo series for HGTV, Flipping 101 with Tarek El Moussa. That year he also filmed an exclusive special of his marriage to second wife, Heather Rae, titled Tarek and Heather: The Big I Do. This led to their series, The Flipping El Moussas, first developed to air in March 2023. While there has been little news of the second season’s release date, Tarek has recently been promoting the release of his new book, Flip Your Life.

The Biggest Takeaways From Tarek El Moussa’s ‘Flip Your Life’

In an April 2024 interview with Jennifer Hudson, Tarek remarked that in many ways, Flip Your Life is meant to be an apology to his children, his ex-wife, and his family for the years of turmoil that followed his cancer diagnosis in 2013. In the book, Tarek described how, nearly nine months into his treatment for thyroid and testicular cancer, he also slipped several discs in his back and pinched a nerve during a golf game. The renovator wrote that during his recovery he was “high as a kite all day long.”

Throughout the ordeal of back surgery, bed-rest, addiction to painkillers, use of testosterone, and mental health struggles, his ex-wife and co-star Christina had to shoulder the household and family responsibilities. This, coupled with the highly publicized gun incident that resulted in police being called to the house, ultimately contributed to the couple’s divorce. An “insider” also attributed the sudden success of their HGTV series as a contributing factor to the couple growing apart. They described the couple as “wildly incompatible” and noted that Christina’s “champagne tastes” conflicted with Tarek’s “beer-from-a-can” personality. The insider further commented that the couple had risen from barely making by on their family budget to enormous heights of success and wealth, which had enabled Christina to indulge in the “finer things” she had been wanting.

Tarek tells Jennifer Hudson that he “wasn’t the best guy during those years,” which coincided with some of the peak years when Flip or Flop was rising in popularity on HGTV. Another takeaway from Tarek’s book is the time that he spent in a mental health facility during this period. Following the divorce from Christina, Tarek detailed drinking heavily while trying to quit using testosterone and the painkillers from his 2013 injury. His mental health was at a low place, and his friends encouraged him to seek professional help. When Tarek made the decision to change, his treatment included spending two months in a facility that was a half-way house that, in his words, was “occupied mostly by heroin addicts.”

Tarek also revealed in his book that during his youth he spent time in a juvenile detention facility as a result of an attempted murder charge. He described growing up in a tough neighborhood in Los Angeles, and having friends involved in gang activity, which ultimately led to the attempted murder charge when he participated in a brawl that got him arrested. Tarek’s honesty about his challenges while growing up and after the demise of his first marriage is admirable. The book certainly offers the image of a man who has learned how to turn unfortunate circumstances into defining moments, modeling an ability to commit to changed behavior in order to succeed. However, the stories Tarek relays in his book are a far-cry from the wholesome family man portrayed on network television.

Heather Rae El Moussa’s Priorities Have Shifted With Motherhood

It’s been a very busy time for Heather. She and Tarek finished filming their first season of The Flipping El Moussas in early 2023, which premiered in March of that year. The final episode dealt with Tarek surprising Heather with the news that they have to flip one more house before the baby arrives. She also filmed her last day on Season 7 of Selling Sunset in January 2023, and soon after delivered her first baby, her son Tristan. Heather has also been a step-mother to Tarek’s two children from his previous marriage, who have appeared on their series with them on HGTV. The final episode of The Flipping El Moussas shows exactly how busy Heather has been, as the expecting mother tries to work on the plans for the home they are renovating during a beach day while also supervising the kids playing volleyball.

In a November 2023 interview with People Magazine, Heather talked about being able to shift priorities now that she is a mother. She explained that she loves to be able to put her family first, prioritize her own happiness, “and step away from some of the drama that Selling Sunset brought into my life.” This seems to confirm the star does not plan to return to the highly charged environment at the Oppenheim Group anytime soon, although she is still a practicing real estate agent. She said she was excited to simply film with her husband without the dramatic environment of the Netflix series, saying with her new series on HGTV “the drama is in the houses, not with the people.”

While the drama on Selling Sunset can often be scandalous, Heather has always managed to navigate each situation with grace. Her HGTV series allows her to continue to share her softer side, without the burden of the drama between co-workers. Heather’s desire to shift away from the drama in her life echoes her husband’s desire to unburden himself of the stories from his past, in order to continue celebrating their current success.

‘The Flipping El Moussas’ Season 2 Still Doesn’t Have a Release Date

While promoting his book in his April 2024 interview with Jennifer Hudson, Tarek mentioned that The Flipping El Moussas is now in its second season. While he claimed the second season is some of the best TV he has “ever been involved with,” Tarek did not mention a release date. He praised Heather’s “high-end” eye for design, as he spoke excitedly about the beautiful homes he and his new wife have renovated for the season. Jennifer remarked that she “can’t wait to see it,” but she did not ask any follow-up questions about the season, instead transitioning to a segment of asking Tarek for real-estate advice. Perhaps the goal was to allow Tarek’s autobiography to shine on its own.

An alternative explanation may be that HGTV as a network prefers to distance themselves from his stories of personal growth. Especially those that relate to his off-screen behavior during the years he had been filming Flip or Flop. As Tarek told Jennifer, the book is “all about turning distress into opportunity.” He was vulnerable in discussing the darker periods in his life, and views the book as “a guide” for people who wish to similarly turn their lives around. The stories that Tarek shared offer an example that, with hard work, you can turn unfortunate circumstances into success. However, HGTV does have a family-oriented image to maintain.

In a recent appearance on The Skinny Confidential podcast, Heather noted the difference between filming with her husband and filming with the agents on the Netflix series, Selling Sunset.She stated that she has a much better time on the HGTV series, especially since she and Tarek are also co-producers and have more control of their filming schedule. Both Tarek and Heather have promised the upcoming season is going to be better than ever. Perhaps the decision to delay the release date for season two of The Flipping El Moussas was entirely theirs, hoping to allow time for each project to shine on their own. But it seems likely that the image of HGTV may also have been a factor in the decision once the contents of Tarek’s autobiography became public knowledge. It seems possible that the delay in release could be an intentional effort to distance the second season of the family-oriented The Flipping El Moussas from the release of Flip Your Life.

And they are certainly keeping it in the family. After years of drama between Tarek and his ex-wife Christina, and even between Christina and Heather, it seems like presenting a united family front is on the agenda. In May 2024, it was announced that Tarek and Christina would be reuniting in a new series called The Flip Off, where the ex-partners would compete against one another in teams with their respective spouses. The reality stars even took to social media to promote the new show, filming a series of videos together to show them as a united front, even amid their competition.

The series features the couples doing what they do best, finding properties to renovate and flip. But this time, they will be in competition with each other to see which team can renovate and flip their property for the most profit. The winning team earns bragging rights. The press release from Warner Bros. Discovery noted that the couples are “sure to bring the flipping drama,” and set the release window for early 2025. And while filming is currently underway, there is already drama on the set.

In July 2024, Christina Hall announced that she was divorcing her husband and co-star, Josh Hall. On Friday, August 9, she took to Instagram to announce that one month after the separation, she “finally” has an appetite again, is exercising, and that now her “house feels like a home.” She also has been working with a life coach, and claims that she will never “give away [her] peace again.” While the couple have mostly kept things civil on social media, it appears that the home renovation expert will be taking on her ex-husband and his new wife alone as Christina returns to set competing solo. And where does the second season of The Flipping El Moussas land in this mess, considering it has long finished filming and still has no release date? Is the network hoping to bolster interest in the second season based on the projected success of the new series?

Filming ‘The Flip Off’ Affected Christina’s Marriage

In an interview with Us Weekly, Christina spoke about the way filming for reality TV affects people differently. She observes that she has a very “go with the flow dynamic” onscreen, noting that something she tried to explain to Josh was that the way she is on-camera is very different from the person she is day-to-day. Christina told Us Weekly that she was used to being in charge on set, and learning to bounce ideas off of something was difficult for her to adapt to, calling it “a whole new dynamic for us.” She also observed that it would be “interesting to see how it plays out.” Not well, apparently.

Christina also admitted that scenes of the couple bickering on camera are mostly discussed ahead of time, saying such scenes are “not necessarily full reality.” She summarized: “I mean, it is challenging to work with your spouse, especially if they’re not used to being on TV.” Especially when your spouse’s ex-husband is also on set. Josh also appears in Christina’s new standalone show, Christina on the Coast, which filmed earlier in the year and is streaming on Max.

Since Christina and Josh have filed separately for divorce, it looks like things will get contentious between the estranged couple over rental income from their shared properties and rights to their filmed segments together. Josh requested spousal support in his filing, causing Christina to hurl insults at him online, implying he should be ashamed to be coming after money he did nothing to earn. While Christina’s divorce filing is more straight forward, outlining in detail the properties she acquired without Josh’s involvement and requesting neither party receive spousal support, the ex-couple’s different expectations mean that the proceedings will likely be drawn out.

Is ‘The Flipping El Moussas’ Canceled?

Amid all the divorce drama with their co-star Christina, the El Moussas have remained silent on when viewers can expect Season 2 of their solo series. As has the network, with no promotional information available despite the season having completed filming earlier in the year. Viewer reviews of the first season on IMDB, have not been favorable, many lamenting the focus on Heather Rae and her lack of flipping expertise. The future for the series remains obscure as it continues on this strange indefinite hiatus, and the divorce drama seems to be at the forefront with Tarek’s extended flipping family.

Catch up on the first season of The Flipping El Moussas on Discovery+ in the U.S.Watch on Discovery+